Supporting means for tents



Sept. 6, 1955 A. E. CAMPFIELD ET AL 2 SUPPORTING MEANS FOR TENTS FiledOct. 30, 1953 INVENTOR 1 drlkzzrlfarni ellz m United States Patent 0asslgnors to Arthur E. Campfield, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application October 30, 1953, Serial No. 389,403 7 Claims.(Cl. 1353) This invention relates to supporting means for tents, and hasfor one of its objects the provision of means by which a large tentstructure will be firmly and securely supported with a minimum of posts,such as are likely to obstruct the vision of persons seated within thetent.

Tents of large size, such as those employed by circuses, carnivals,fairs, music festivals, camp meetings and other gatherings, usuallyrequire the use of a substantial number of poles, guy wires therefor,and other elements so positioned that the same seriously interfere withthe vision or view of the persons seated in the tent. In the productionof a tent of this character, the optimum sought is the use of a minimumnumber of posts, to thus provide unobstructed vision for the spectators.On the other hand, it is desirable that a large tent of the charactermentioned shall have its top rigidly and securely supported. Hence theproblem of so supporting the top with a minimum number of verticalsupporting posts has always been a vital one.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide asupporting means in which a minimum number of posts are required. It isanother object of the invention to provide a supporting structure whichcan be easily erected and dismantled. It is still another object of theinvention to provide a structure which can be installed in a mannerwhich lends itself to semi-permanent erection of the tent if desired,yet one which can be easily disassembled when required.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the pro vision of asupporting structure in which a bail ring is adjustably suspended from atent post and from which a cable extends to a plate at the lower end ofa prop that has its upper end disposed against the tent top to elevateand hold the same raised, the plate being further provided with cablesupports extending to vertical posts disposed on the outside of thetent. By this arrangement, the prop is held against the tent top in amanner to support the same as is done by a vertical post, yet one whichis spaced from and elevated above the ground so that the prop and itscables are out of the line of vision of the spectators.

With these objects and other objects to be hereinafter set forth inview, we have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of theinvention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through portions of a tent, showingthe improved supporting means;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the prop and plate attached thereto;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the triangular plate that is located at thelower end of the prop;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bail ring, with the center post shown incross section;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bail ring, the plate and the connectingtensioned cables, and

Fig. 6 is a view of the prop.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates one of the vertical center polesof the tent. Its lower end rests upon or may be embedded in the ground,or is'otherwise firmly planted thereon and the tent top 2 is supportedat the upper end of this post or pole in the known manner. The side wallof the tent is shown at 3, and the same may be of known construction.

Surrounding the post 1 and located adjacent to the top of the same andpositioned below the tent top 2 is a bail ring 8 which is suspended froma tackle composed of cables 5 guided through one or more pulleys 4 andterminating in the dependent line 6 which is secured on a cleat 7 orother suitable fastening means located adjacent to the lower end of thepost 1. By means of the line 6 it will be apparent that the bail ring 8may be raised or lowered as required, for the purpose to be described.

At 12 is shown the tent prop which consists of a rela-' tively shortrigid pole or post, provided at the top with the spindle 13 forengagement through the tent top, and provided at its opposite or lowerend with a stem 14 formed with a transverse hole 25 (Fig. 6). Fitted onthe stem 14 is a triangular plate 11 that is formed with a central hole21 which fits about the stem 14. A cotter pin 15, or similar retainingelement, extends through the hole 25 in the stem 14 from displacement.The plate 11 is-provided adjacent to its three corners with the holesindicated respectively at 22, 23 and 24. Cables 9 and 10 are secured atone end to the bail ring 8 and the cable 10 has its other end fastenedto the plate 11 by being looped through the hole 22 therein.

Two cables, indicated at 16, are respectively secured at one end to theplate 11 by means of the holes 23 and 24 therein.

Located exteriorly of the tent is a plurality of spaced uprights 26,these uprights being preferably, but not necessarily, I-beams havingtheir lower ends firmly anchored in the ground, and in the case ofsemi-permanent tent erection, embedded in a block of concrete 20 locatedunderground. Each of the cables 16 is extended through eyes 17 or othersuitable guiding elements mounted adjacent to the tops of these posts26, the cables thence extending downwardly for connection to turnbuckles18 and then to pegs 19 or other suitable anchorages such as shortlengths of I-beam embedded in the ground or in the concrete block 20.

From the foregoing, the operation of the improved structure will bereadily understood. The cables 10 and 16 are placed under tension by theelevation of the bail ring 8 and by tightening of the turnbuckles 18.The plate 11 acts as a supporting platform beneath the lower end of theprop 12, thus holding the prop in a substantially vertical, but slightlyangular position under the tent top to thus support the tent top 2.Since the cables 16 extend divergently and tautly from the plate 11, theplate is thus held against twist or side sway and hence the prop 12 ismaintained against swinging or swaying action, and serves for allintents and purposes as a full length vertical supporting post, yet withits lower end terminating high in the air and well above the ground, andout of the line of vision of spectators seated within the tent.

The described means for bracing and supporting the tent is so arrangedthat the same is easily erected and disassembled when necessary. Yet forpermanent or semi-permanent installations, the structure is such that atent erected by this arrangement will be found strong andweather-resistant under all conditions of use.

While we have herein described a single embodiment of the invention, itis obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto since variousmodifications can be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, while the plate 11 is shown in triangular form,

and maintains the plate 11 the shape of the same may be varied accordingto individual' requirementsythe number of cables extending from the bailringto the plate, andfrom .thevplate totheuprights may be increasedandother departures from the illustrated construction maybe made as iscontemplated byzthescope ofthe claims appended hereto.

KYhatiwe claim-iszf l. A supporting means for tents comprising, atentsupportingipostz extendinglfrom-the ground to the tent peak,a.-.bail:ring surroundingrsaid post and adjustably supported frornv theupper-portion of the same, a substantially vertical prop having itsupperendsupporting a portion Off thetentft'opat a distance from thepost, a plate maintained on the lower end of the prop, a tensioned cableextendedbetween the bail ring and the plate, and tensioned ca'blesextending betweenthe plate and-supports located outwardly of the prop.

2. A supporting means for tents comprising, a tent post, a bail ringsurrounding thev same, means for elevating thebail ring relatively to'the'post tensioned cables extendingirom f-the bail ring, a plate towhich the outer end of one of the cables is connected, a prop supportedOHIthQPlfitfi', the upper end 'ofthe prop engaging and supporting a partofthe tent top, tensioned cables extending outwardly of the plate andposts located externally of the tent and engaging and stressing the lastnamed cables. r

3; A supportingmeans for tents comprising, a tent post, a bailzringsurrounding the post, a tent prop located at. a distance 'from' the postand having its upper end supporting a part of the top of the tent cover,a plate on thelower .end of the prop, an upright at a distance outwardlyof the post, a tensioned cable extending from theplatetothelupright andatensioned cable extending from the bail ring tothe plate.

4. A supporting means for tents comprising, a tent post, a bail 'ringsurroundingthe post below the top, means-tor adjustablysuspending thebail ring from the post, a prop for supporting a portion of the tentat adistance from the post, the-lower end of the prop beingprovided with aplate and being located above the ground and out. ofthe line of visionof tent occupants, an-upright located at a distance outwardly of theprop and tensioned cables extending respectively from the plate to thebail ring and from the plate to the upright.

5. A supporting means for tents as provided for in claim 4, wherein theplateis of triangular shape and is maintained on a stern atthe lower endof the prop.

6. A supportingmeans for tents comprising, a tent post extending fromthe ground to the tent peak, abail ring hung from the upper portion ofthe posband below the top of the tent, means foradjustably'raisingorlowering said bail ring, a prop located at a distance from the bailring, said prop having its lower end elevated above the ground and itsupper end supporting a portion of the top of the tent, a plate fitted onthe lower end of the prop, a cable extended from said plate to the bailring, a plurality of additional cables projecting divergently from theopposite side-of the plate, and uprights positioned outwardly of saidplate and engaged by said last-mentioned additional cables all of thecables being maintained under tension. I

7. A supporting means as provided for in claim 6, wherein the uprightsare located exteriorly-ofthe tent, said uprights having their lower endsembedded in the ground, and adjusting means-adjacent to said uprightsfor tensioning the cables which extend from the-uprights to the plate. 7i

ReferencesQited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

